Hi all,
1. Is it better to load the fact table from the dimension tables, so populate the dimensions with all records from DW and load fact with same records from those dimensions using joins.
2.Or is it better to have the dimensions only contain the main attributes (not actual records) in a list format, so say 10 rows for customer dimension and 20 rows for products in product dimension, then load the fact table from the DW and not the dimension(s)
then connect back to the dimensions using business keys.
From what I can see both ways will work although point 1 would mean adding all the records to the dimensions first then select across records that are columns in the fact table which would be overkill??
And point 2 would be in effect just lists of unique customers, products...with a business key in each to point back to the fact.
Thanks